Photobiomodulation Therapy for Mouth Sores from Bone Marrow Transplant

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Overseen by Nathaniel S. Treister, DMD, DMSc

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Recruiting

Sponsor: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Disqualifiers: Radiation therapy, Photosensitivity, Palifermin, others

No Placebo Group

Approved in 3 Jurisdictions

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial is testing a light therapy device called THOR LX2.3 with LED Lollipop to prevent painful mouth sores in patients undergoing a specific type of stem cell transplant. The therapy uses light to reduce inflammation and speed up healing inside the mouth. About 20 patients will receive this treatment during their chemotherapy and for a period afterward.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, it mentions specific treatments and conditions that would exclude you from participating, such as recent intraoral PBMT or planned use of palifermin.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment THOR LX2.3 with LED Lollipop for mouth sores from bone marrow transplant?

Research shows that photobiomodulation therapy, which includes low-level laser and light therapies, is effective in preventing and treating oral mucositis (painful mouth sores) in patients undergoing cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This suggests it may also help with mouth sores from bone marrow transplants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is photobiomodulation therapy safe for humans?

Research indicates that photobiomodulation therapy, including low-level laser therapy (LLLT), is generally safe for humans, as studies have not shown significant side effects or adverse events during trials. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

How is photobiomodulation therapy different from other treatments for mouth sores from bone marrow transplant?

Photobiomodulation therapy (also known as low-level laser therapy or light therapy) is unique because it uses light to penetrate tissues, providing pain relief and promoting healing without drugs. This non-invasive treatment can be administered externally, which may offer advantages over traditional methods that require direct application to the mouth sores. ^{1 4 9 10 11}

Research Team

Kentaro Ikeda, DDS, MPH

Principal Investigator

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Nathaniel S. Treister, DMD, DMSc

Principal Investigator

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adults over 18 who are about to receive a bone marrow transplant and have agreed to the study. It's not for those who've had photobiomodulation therapy recently, radiation on their head or neck, issues with light sensitivity, or will be treated with palifermin.

Inclusion Criteria

I am 18 years old or older.

Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document

I am scheduled for a specific bone marrow transplant with FluBu4 and Tac-Mtx.

Exclusion Criteria

I have had radiation therapy to my head or neck.

I have received PBMT in my mouth within the last month before my stem cell transplant.

I am scheduled to receive palifermin for mouth sore prevention.

Trial Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Conditioning Chemotherapy

Participants receive conditioning chemotherapy as part of the transplant procedure

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive daily intraoral photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) from the start of conditioning chemotherapy to day +20 or until discharge

Up to 3 weeks

Daily visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• THOR LX2.3 with LED Lollipop (Photobiomodulation)

Trial Overview The trial tests if a special LED device called THOR LX2.3 can prevent mouth sores in patients getting intense chemotherapy before a bone marrow transplant. Participants will use this LED Lollipop daily during treatment.

Participant Groups

Group I: INTRAORAL PBMT IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING alloHCT Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The research study procedures include: screening for eligibility and study treatment including daily PBMT and clinical evaluations. Participants will receive the study treatment daily from the start of conditioning chemotherapy to day +20, or discharge (if you are able to be discharged from the hospital prior to day +20), whichever occurs first -THOR LX2.3 with LED Lollipop

THOR LX2.3 with LED Lollipop is already approved in Brazil for the following indications:

Approved in Brazil as Light Therapy for:

• Prevention of oral mucositis in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
• Treatment of oral mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,128

Recruited

382,000+

Dr. Benjamin L. Ebert

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Chief Executive Officer

MD from Harvard Medical School, PhD from Oxford University

Dr. Craig A. Bunnell

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Chief Medical Officer since 2012

MD from Harvard Medical School, MPH from Harvard School of Public Health, MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management

THOR Photomedicine Ltd

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

20+

Findings from Research

Low-level light therapy (LLLT) shows promising benefits in periodontal and dental implant treatments, demonstrating biostimulatory, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects that can enhance healing and reduce inflammation.

Despite the positive findings, there is significant variability in study designs and light irradiation parameters, making it difficult to establish standardized evidence-based protocols for clinical use.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Photobiomodulation in Periodontology and Implant Dentistry: Part 1. Gholami, L., Asefi, S., Hooshyarfard, A., et al.[2020]

In a randomized double-blinded trial involving 50 patients with symptomatic geographic tongue, low-level laser therapy (LLLT) using a 660-nm diode laser significantly reduced pain and burning sensations compared to a control group, particularly noted at follow-up visits T2 and T3.

LLLT not only alleviated discomfort but also promoted healing, suggesting it can enhance the quality of life for patients suffering from geographic tongue.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Photobiomodulation Effect of Low-level Laser Therapy as a Palliative Treatment of Symptomatic Geographic Tongue (A Double-blinded Randomized Clinical Trial). Saad, I.[2022]

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) can protect normal human lymphoblasts from ionizing radiation damage, but it does not provide the same protection for human leukemia cells, which may actually become more sensitive to radiation after LLLT treatment.

This study indicates that LLLT may not only fail to protect malignant cells during cancer treatment but could also enhance their susceptibility to radiation therapy, highlighting the need for careful consideration in clinical applications.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of pre-radiation exposure to LLLT of normal and malignant cells. Barasch, A., Raber-Durlacher, J., Epstein, JB., et al.[2018]

In a study of 26 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma undergoing treatment, low-level laser therapy (LLLT) significantly reduced the incidence and severity of oral mucositis, with 72.7% of the LLLT group achieving normal mucosa by week 5 compared to only 20% in the control group.

The study found no significant differences in side effects or medication use between the LLLT and control groups, indicating that LLLT is a safe intervention for managing mucositis during cancer treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Photobiomodulation with low-level laser therapy reduces oral mucositis caused by head and neck radio-chemotherapy: prospective randomized controlled trial. Marín-Conde, F., Castellanos-Cosano, L., Pachón-Ibañez, J., et al.[2019]

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) significantly reduces the risk of developing oral mucositis (OM) in head and neck cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation, with a relative risk reduction of 2.03 compared to placebo.

LLLT not only helps prevent OM but also significantly decreases the severity and duration of symptoms, reducing the number of days with severe OM by an average of 4.38 days compared to placebo, without increasing side effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A systematic review with meta-analysis of the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in cancer therapy-induced oral mucositis. Bjordal, JM., Bensadoun, RJ., Tunèr, J., et al.[2022]

Photobiomodulation therapy (PBM-T) significantly reduces the severity of oral mucositis (OM) in cancer patients, as shown in a study involving 56 participants who received treatment over 4 weeks.

Combining PBM-T with photodynamic therapy (PDT) not only enhances the effectiveness of the treatment but also accelerates the healing process, reducing the time for lesion resolution from 15 days to 11 days.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Photobiomodulation and photodynamic therapy for the treatment of oral mucositis in patients with cancer. Pires Marques, EC., Piccolo Lopes, F., Nascimento, IC., et al.[2020]

Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) is a safe and effective treatment for oral mucositis, a painful complication following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Extraoral delivery of PBMT offers clinical advantages but requires careful dosimetric planning to ensure effective treatment, as light must pass through additional tissue layers before reaching the oral mucosa.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Path to an Evidence-Based Treatment Protocol for Extraoral Photobiomodulation Therapy for the Prevention of Oral Mucositis. Adnan, A., Yaroslavsky, AN., Carroll, JD., et al.[2022]

Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMt) significantly reduced pain in patients with oral ulcers from chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD), with 85.7% of treatment sessions resulting in less pain immediately after therapy.

The average pain reduction was 73.4%, and the relief lasted for about 6.5 days, with no reported adverse effects, indicating PBMt's potential as a safe and effective pain management option for refractory cases.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Photobiomodulation (low-level laser) therapy for immediate pain relief of persistent oral ulcers in chronic graft-versus-host disease. Finfter, O., Avni, B., Grisariu, S., et al.[2021]

References

1. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Low-level laser or LED photobiomodulation on oral mucositis in pediatric patients under high doses of methotrexate: prospective, randomized, controlled trial. [2021]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Photobiomodulation in Periodontology and Implant Dentistry: Part 1. [2020]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Photobiomodulation or low-level laser therapy in the management of cancer therapy-induced mucositis, dermatitis and lymphedema. [2019]

4. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Systematic review of photobiomodulation for the management of oral mucositis in cancer patients and clinical practice guidelines. [2021]

5. India pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Photobiomodulation Effect of Low-level Laser Therapy as a Palliative Treatment of Symptomatic Geographic Tongue (A Double-blinded Randomized Clinical Trial). [2022]

6. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of pre-radiation exposure to LLLT of normal and malignant cells. [2018]

7. Denmark pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Photobiomodulation with low-level laser therapy reduces oral mucositis caused by head and neck radio-chemotherapy: prospective randomized controlled trial. [2019]

8. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A systematic review with meta-analysis of the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in cancer therapy-induced oral mucositis. [2022]

9. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Photobiomodulation and photodynamic therapy for the treatment of oral mucositis in patients with cancer. [2020]

10. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Path to an Evidence-Based Treatment Protocol for Extraoral Photobiomodulation Therapy for the Prevention of Oral Mucositis. [2022]

11. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Photobiomodulation (low-level laser) therapy for immediate pain relief of persistent oral ulcers in chronic graft-versus-host disease. [2021]